Liquid fuel burning apparatus



Dec. 21, 393%. N H, SUTTERFHEL@ k S LQUID FUEL BURNING APPARATUS Filed QOL 26, 1935 3 Sheet$-5heet l JMB l /ll fr l INVENTOR. /Vae/ f Jaffe/#a ,JQ/ fw ATTORNEY5 Dec. 21, 1937. N. H. san-TERME@ LIQUID FUEL BURNING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1935 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 21, 1937V LIQUID rtm1. BURNrNGAPPARATUs Noel H. Sutterlield, etroit,` Mich., assigner to The Timken-Detroit Axle Company, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Ohio Application (hotelier 26, 1935, Serial No. 46,947

. Glaims.

This invention relates to oil burning apparatus 'of the type having a rotary oil and air distributing mechanism centrally located in a combustion chamber and to mechanism and apparatus to be 5 heated thereby.

The fuel feeding, distributing and burning mechanism which I preferably employ and which is here disclosed is substantially identical with that illustrated in theI copending Milton A.

Powers application, Serial #740,698 filed August 20, 1934. In said application is illustrated a waterheater of the tank variety, i. e., the hot products of combustion circulate around the internal surfaces of a specially constructed water tank thereby raising the temperature of any fluid contained therein.

There are many instances where home owners do not desire a unit having an integral tank as they already have a storage tank and naturally do not desire to duplicate their equipment or discard a good tank.

Therefore, a primary object of my invention is 4to provide a novel oil-burning, water-heating apparatus which may be used in conjunction with a water storage tank and which will maintain thewater in the storage tank at a predetermined temperature.

A further object is to provide in a water heater equipped with an oil burner of the rotary wall flame type, water circulating tubes, circularly coiled adjacent the periphery of the combustion chamber and through which water is circulated. Coordinate with the feature just described, my invention also embodies means for protecting the water circulating tubes fromthe direct action of the llame, and yet which does'not materially interfere with heat transfer to the water.

A further object is to provide an oil burning Water heater wherein there is a minimum o f` impedance to water ilow. More specifically, itis anobject to provide a coil-type water heater equipped with a rotary Wall flame oil burner wherein the water inlet and outlet tubes are straight and the diameter ofthe tube of the water tube coil is relatively large.

It is essential to the eillcient operation of an oil burner, and especially a burner of the rotary l wallflame type, that the quantity of air in the region of combustion ybe accurately controlled. Therefore, it is necessary that the combustion chamber-especially from a point slightly below to a point slightly'above the vicinity of. combustion origin-be air-tight'in order thatexcess air will not be present. In prior art devices there is necessarily what is termed a re or service and inspection door opening into the combustion chamber at a point slightly above the zone of combustion origin. Although in most cases suchdoors are clamped tightly when closed, due to carelessness in closing and also wear, there is apt to be air leaks..

Therefore, a further object of my invention is to provide an oil burner combustion chamber with a re door so located that the oil burner flame is not affected by the opening thereof.

In the case of a coil-type water heater it would be decidedly impracticable to have the service and inspection door in the usual location, for a special coil having unusual convolutions would be necessary in order to provide an aperture therein.

Therefore, a further object is to provide an oilburning, coil-type water heater with. a combination smoke hood and inspection and'service door located above the water circulating coil. More specifically, it is an object to provide a coil-type water heater with a combination smoke hood and inspection and Vservice door at the juncture of the ilue and the heater casing, the iiue emanat-l ing from the top of the heater.`

`A high stack temperature is a common fault l of coil-type hot water heaters, as ordinarily the vertical length of coil over which the products ofcombustion pass is not suiiicient to allow the transfer of the maximum of heat from the gases to the water. y

Therefore a further object is to provide in an oil-burning hot-water heater having a so-called wall-llame burner, a vertically positioned, coiled water tube, the coil being located adjacent the periphery of the combustion chamber of the heater at its lower portion, and its upper portion being gradually reduced in diameter, thereby forming in effect a bee-hive.

A further object is to provide an oil-burning coil-type hot-water heater having the coil shaped ,substantially as a bee-hive and a baiiie plate placed on top thereof substantially closing the opening formed bythe top coil, thereby compeiling the hot products of` combustion to pass through and around the convolution of the coil in order to pass out of the combustion chamber.`

In the coll-type' hot-water heaters of the prior art, there are enormous heat losses. Improved insulation has reduced these heat losses to a cer tain extent, but because the -inside walls and top of the heater unit are directly subjected to the highly heated -products of combustion it is not practical from a cost standpoint to .insulate these wells to the proper degree.

Therefore a further important object of my invention is to provide a coil-type hot-water heating unit with novel means whereby the heat losses are reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide in a coil-type hot-water heater, plates spaced inwardly from the heater unit top and side walls, thereby formi' ing insulating and/or radiating plates.

The operation of the above-mentioned plates tends to increase the temperature of the portions of the oil-burning mechanism which project into the combustion chamber. Such mechanism comprisesin the rotary wall llame burner which I preferably employthe oil ilinger tubes and fan head. With a fan head having air-throwing blades entirely around its periphery there is no danger of gas recirculation, for the air thrown outwardly by the blades will prevent the ingress of hot combustion gases and also will nullify the effect of radiated heat. Such a fan is not practical for a water heater, however, for an economical and small capacity burner having a low oil and air rate must be employed and the fan above mentioned would not provide the desired characteristics. Therefore it is necessary that a fan having only a few working blades be employed. Prior art fans of this nature have a few diametrically opposite working blades and aI circular skirt therebetween, inside of which is a low pressure area by reason of the blades thereadjacent pulling air therefrom. Recirculated combustion gases arev sucked under the fan in this region which heat the flinger tubes and cause carbon to collect therein. The reclrculated gases also heat up the burner mechanism below the combustion-chamber which often results in damage tothe parts. A

The above and further objects will become apparent from a study of the following description when considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view partly broken away, of the hot water heating unit of my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of Figure l but is reduced in scale,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows,

y, wardly extending parallel walls I3. A plurality Figure 4 is a partial' sectional view, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the base of Figure 2, and is taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the fan of Figure' 4,

Figure 7 is a sectional view of -Figure 6 and is taken substantially along the line 1+1, and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters referto like parts throughout the several figures, and with particular reference to Figures l, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the oil-burning water heater of my invention comprises a base member I which supports an upper structure generally designated .as 3. Base member I is preferably made of sheet metal and comprises a supporting member 5, a cover 1 and a ring I I. Member 5 is substantially cylindrical in shape, having one side thereof open and terminating in outof anchoring brackets I4 are-suitably secured to the .lower inner side of cylindrical portions and arefor the purpose of positioning the unit with respect to a ooring. 4Circular ring II is provided with an upstanding rim portion I5 which ts into and is secured to the cylindrical portion of supporting "member 5 by suitable means such as spot-Welding.

The inner portion of ring II terminates in a downwardly extending circular portion or ilange I1, the height of which varies uniformly from a minimum to a maximum, said minimum and maximum heights being opposite ,diametrical1y, as seen in Figure 4, 'the result being to tilt the hearth assembly in the manner to be hereinafter pointed out. Attached to the lower 'portion of ring II outwardly of downwardly extending portion I1 is a series of bolts I9, the heads of which are secured to the underside of the ring by suitable means such as spot-welding. Bolts I9 are adapted to support a lower hearth plate 2i and an insulating plate 23. The insulating plate is clamped between the lower edge of flange il of ring II and lower hearth plate 2I. Due to the graduated lower edge of flange I1, the lower hearth plate and insulation plate are secured in said base member i in a sloping position. The

.reason for the slope is to assist in draining overow oil, as fully set out in the above-noted Powers application, and as this part of the structure .is not claimed herein it will not be further described.

Cover 1 is substantially U-shaped, the legs of the U registering with and fitting about the parallel portions i3 of member 5 and the bottom of the U having Ventilating louvres protruding therefrom. Said cover 'i is also provided with a top portion.

With cover 'I removed, an opening is provided through which the cil burner mechanisms may be inserted and installed and which are more fully described in the above-noted copending Powers application. Suffice it to say that the oil burner mechanism comprises an ignition transformer 25, a constant level oil valve 21, a drip bucket and automatic shut oi mechanism 29, a burner motor 3I, the latter driving a distributer head comprising oil flinger tubes 33 and an air fan 35, the fan assembly, however, forms part of this invention.

The hearth structure comprises an upper hearth plate 31 suitably spacedA from lower hearth plate 2| and insulating plate 23 and has mounted thereon, preferably in sealing relationcontinuous around the periphery of impact ring Intermediate upper hearth plate 31 and lower hearth plate 2| is a radiation plate 45 suitably supported upon and spaced from' lower hearth plate 2 I by means of lips 41 bent downwardly from plate 45; The radiation plate is of slightly less diameter than the inside of outwardly extending porticn I1 of ring II.

The inside of upper structure 3 is Vformed by two semi-cylindrical members 49 joined together at their ends bysuitable means such as screws 5l to form a cylindrical section. from members 49 is a cylindrical insulating 'or Spaced inwardly radiating shield-53 formed of matingl halves joined together. Provided in shield 53, at'spaced points of its height, are circular raised portions or corrugations 55, which strengthen it and ,also insure a uniform spacing thereof from xnembers 49. The lower portions of members 49 rest upon the upper surface of ring as does also shield 53. Spaced outwardly from cylindrical members 49, and having its lower margin resting upon the relationship through .the walls of said heater on.

.by the heat ofv combustion may rapidly upper portion of the upturned portion l of ring I I, is a metal cover. or casing 6| of cylindrical conguration. Suitable insulation 51 nl ls the space between member 49 and cover 6|.

Resting upon the upper portion of members 49 is a circular plate 53 having a central circular aperture therethrough Fitting in the aperture of plate 63 and attached thereto .by means of an angular member 65, is a cylindrical -flue member 51. Placed on top of plate63 is top insulation 69 and resting upon the upper portion4 of said insulation is a top metallic, cover 1| having a downwardly-turned periphery which fits over the top portion of casing 5|. Removably secured to flue Amember 61 by suitable means, such as bolts, is a ue casting member 13 having on theback-side thereof va circular sleeve-like portion 15 adapted toreceive suitable piping,'and on its opposite side a slanting combination smoke hood, and inspec` The inspection door 11 i tion and service door 11. is provided with suitable means to normally keep it in closed position. Supported on the underside oftop plate. 53, and

spaced therefrom by suitable means such as screws 19, is a top insulating and radiating plate 8|. Plate 8| is suitably secured to the lower-mar gin of flue member 61 by means o'f an angle inember 83. On the' forward side of cover 5| is secured a substantially U-section plate 85 having substantially centrally'thereof a manual heateron and oi switch 81'which forms no 'part ofA this invention.

Inside of insulating shield 53 vis a .preferably single continuous coil 89' preferably of copper, which is supported in xed relation to the burner and casing parts oy means'of one end thereof iitting within Aan inlet casting 9| and the other end thereof fitting within an outlet casting 93. Castings 9| and 93 project in .preferably parallel opposite sides, the inlet casting being adjacent the lower portion and the outlet casting being adjacent the upper portion. .The inlet and outlet.

castings are removably secured to semi-cylindrical members 49 by suitable means such as bolts (not shown) Itshould be observed that both the inlet and outlet connections are straight, thereby presenting a minimum impedance to fluid flow. Accordingly, the convection currents established flow through the coil. f

The diameter of the tubing due to less friction and a greater heat transfer.

'- due to a greater temperature dltierence. Tubes supporting from their two'points of suspensiom.'

89 are of suicient size and thickness to be self.-

however, if desired, yother supports may be pro-V vided. T'he lowermost convolution of the coil structure is spaced above lower insulating plate dit and is disposed between upstanding ring dit of the hearth assembly and cylindrical insulating plate 53. Coil t9 extends upwardly'for the greater portion otits length in cylindrical fashion; however, the top few coils are oi successively decreased diameter, thereby forming in effect a bee-hive ar rangement. A removable baille plate 95 is placed -bver the opening left by the top coil, tocompel of'coiljtt is rela-` tively large, thereby providing rapid circulation, f

burner of the rotary wall'ilame type, and therefore'theflame of the burner will'be adjacent upstanding'ring 43. The lowermost coils of .coil 89 will be subjected to radiated heat from upstanding ring 33- and also from lower plate i5 as well as circulated combustion gases. The'upper coils of said coil 8 9 will be subjected directly to the hot products of combustion. The combustion gases will tend to pass over the-inner sides of said coil, and-were it not for the bee-hive shape and baille plate 95 they would pass directly up through the flue. y However, with the bee-hive shape, and with baille plate 95, the combustion gases are Viiorced to circulate around and through the coils t9 in order to escape through the ue. Therefore, the entire surface ofthe coils is contacted by the ho't productsy of combustion, thereby extracting as'much heat as possible therefrom and also reducing the stack temperature. lating plates 45, 53 and 8| radiate heat absorbed thereby back toward the coils and thus further in- 'I'he insucrease the emciency ofthe-unit. 'In addition to this function, the shields, due to their being spaced from the sides, top and bottom of said unit. prevent a large portion of heat from reaching the insulation. i I

Referring now to Figures 6, '7 and 8, the fan 35 Ipreferably employ for the'oil burnerbest adapted for my unit, .and which forms part' of 'this invention, has a cup-shaped cover portion 91,- the sides of the cup terminating in a slightly outwardly extending lip 99. The side of the cup is provided with diametrically opposite openings lill. y.rfittached to the underside. of cover 91 and `extending throughopenings |0| are a plurality of fan .blades |93. The blades are secured to the underside of cover 91 as by spot-welding bent portions thereof to the cover. Blades im are notched as at lill on their lower inner portion for the. purpose'of clearance,V and they extend outwardly beyond theouter periphery of cover t1.' Flinger tubes 33 are disposed to one side of veach pair `of long blades |03, but preferably'terminate short of the ange of the cover of the fan as indicated-by the dotted lines in Figure 6.

' Intermediate fan blades |03, and disposed ine side of the slrirted portion of cover @l are shorter blades its. .Blades its are formed with notches iii similar to the notches im of blades its, but they terminate inside of the skirted portion.-

Blades' its are secured to the underside of cover y @l in the same manner as are blades its.

Blades it@ are the only ones that are working f blades in the sense that they are the only vones which vpropel airontwardly from vsaid fan for supplying the carbureted fuel at the periphery of the hearth with 'combustion air. Therefore, blades it@ are non-working blades. Blades lili), however, have the deiinite function of preventing any combustion'air or gases from entering under the slsirted portion of cover 91 during rotation of the fan. Recirculation gases will, of course, not enter through cover openings I I as air is being forced outwardly therethrough by means of working blades |03. Therefore, the flinger tubes 33, which extend along blades |03, will be protected from the hot recirculation gases and the effect of radiated heat, and Will only be 001:1-,V

tacted by cool air which is drawn upwardly through the opening provided therefor in the lower portion of the combustion chamber and propelled outwardly by means of working blades |03. Therefore, the flinger tubes will be maintained free of carbon and the motor and other parts of the burner will be protected from the heat of the combustion chamber.

Operation Assuming that motor 3l is operating and the distributer is throwing a substantially horizontally disposed sheet of comparatively large, un-

y atomized droplets of oil toward ring 4I, and that fan 91 is simultaneously discharging a blast of air downwardly and outwardly over hearth plate 31, over deecting wall or ring 39, and through grills G, combustion is initiated by any suitable means located in the gutter formed by rings 39 and 4| (not shown). After combustion has been initiated and has propagated around the rings, ring 4I is promptly heated to a. temperature sufficiently high to substantially instantaneously volatilize all of the fuel impinging thereagainst, with the result that the flame rises'above the grills. The flame is directed outwardly from the grills against ring 43, substantially as shown in Figure 4, with the result that ring 43 las heated to a high temperature and radiates heat from its outer surface into the lower heater coils. A part of this radiated heat is transmitted to plate 53 and is then reflected back to the coil.

'I'he hot products of combustion rise above the grills and circulate about the upper convolutions of the coil before leaving the chamber by way of flue 13, as'previously pointed out. Ring 4|. is continuously maintained at the volatilizing temperature of the fuel by a part cf the heated products of combustion circulating behind it, as indicated in Figure 4. Therefore, as ring 43 prevents these circulating products of combustion from directly contacting the lower parts of the coil, which contain comparatively cold water and which are of a material which conducts heat rapidly, member 43 is maintained at a comparatively high temperature and possible condensation of liquid fuel upon the lower convolutions of the coil is precluded.

While the device is operating as just described, heat from the burning gases of combustion is radiated outwardly against lining 53, which reflects the heat Waves back against the coil. In.

this way the heat generated in the device is efficiently transmitted to the water. A part of the heat is radiated downwardly onto fan 91, but the cool air currents passing therethrough serve to keep the same at a comparatively low temperature. Also, by reason of the long and short fan blades, the outflow of air from the fan precludes the possibility of combustion gases entering under the fan skirt and heating and carbonizing the iiinger tubes. Also radiator plate 45 reflects radiated heat upwardly and assists insulation 23 and plate 2| to keep the motor and the other mechanism located in the base at a comparatively low, safe temperature.

From the above and foregoing description, it is evident that I have provided a water heating unit which may be used in connection with any storage tank and which is highly efficient because of the radiation plates and the novel coil formation, as well as the large diameter tubing and the absence of abrupt changes in direction of uid ow. It is further evident that I have provided a fan for the burner of such. a unit which will be conducive to greater over-al1 eniciency of the unit in that it effectively seals the burner mechanism from th'e high temperatures of the combruston chamber.

While'I have illustrated and described my invention as being for a hot water heater it is evident that it may be used as a furnace for a hot water heating system, or a flash boiler for a steam heating system, and therefore the term water heating coil in the appended claims is 'intended to embrace the coils of heating systems,

flash boilers and the like.

The inventionmay be embodied in other speciflc forms without departing from the spirit or chamber andlocated adjacent the walls thereof,

a substantially centrally disposed liquid fuel burning apparatus mounted in the lower end of said chamber and comprising a central means for projecting a blast of air and a horizontal sheet of unatomized oil outwardly, an upright metallic impact member spaced inwardly from the walls of said chamber against which said oil is adapted to impinge and over which said air is adapted to flow, said-oil atomizing against said impact member and combusting with said air. above and outwardly of said impact member, to thereby maintain the latter at a temperature sufficiently high to volatilize oil impinging thereagainst, and a generally annular upright baille disposed in said chamber between the lower end of said coil and said impact member for precluding direct contact of the combustionl gases with the lower end of said coil.

2. The device described in claim 1, wherein said baille is disposed. closely adjacent the lower end of said coil and'is constructed of comparatively thin metal whereby it will be heated to a high temperature and will transmit heat by radiation to said coil.

3. The device described in claim l, wherein said chamber is provided with a hearth floor, and said baffle seats in sealing engagement therewith to prevent oil from leaking therebetween.

4. In a water-heating device, a wall structure defining a substantially upright combustion chamber, a water heating coil disposed in said chamber and comprising substantially vertically aligned closely spaced convolutions located adjacent the Walls thereof, a substantially centrally disposed liquid fuel burning apparatus mounted in the lower end of said chamber and comprising l a central means for projecting a blast of air and a horizontal sheet of unatomized oil outwardly, an upright metallic impact member spaced inwardly from the walls of said chamber against ing with said air above and outwardly of said impact member, to-thereby maintain the latter at a temperature suiilciently high to volatilize the oil impinging thereagainst, and a generally annular upright baille disposed in said chamber between the lower end ofsaid coil and said impact member i'or precluding direct contact of the combustion gases -with the lower end of said coil, the convolutions of said coil providing an upright walled combustion space, the upper convolutions of saidcoil, at a vertical distance approximately equal to the diameter of said combustion space, sharply decreasing in diameter and forming a wall of beehive configuration having a partially closed top providing a restricted gas outlet, and also providing a radiant heat absorbing roof for said combustion space, for bringing about an emcient heat transfer to said coil.

5. In a water-heating device, a wall structure defining a substantially uprightl combustion chamber, a water-heating coil disposed in said chamber and comprising substantially vertically aligned closely spaced convolutions located adjacent the walls thereof, a substantially centrally disposed liquid fuel' burning apparatus mounted in the lower end of said chamber and comprising a central means for projecting a blast of air and a horizontal sheet of unatomized fuel outwardly,-

an upright metallic impact member spaced inwardly from the walls of said chamber against which said oil is adapted to impinge and over which the air' is adapted to ow, said oil atomizing against'said impact member and combusting with said air above and outwardly of said impact member, to thereby maintain the latter at a temperature sufilciently high to volatilize the fuel impinging thereagainst; and a generally annular upright baille disposed in said chamber be-K tween the lower end of said coil and said impact member for precluding direct contact of the combustion'gases with the lower end. of said coil, the convolutions of` said coil providing an upright unbroken-walled combustionv space, said wall structure having an apertured top, a iiue pipe connection mounted on said top in alignment with said aperture and having a door therein through which access may be gained to said central means for -projecting a blast of air and v unatomized oil.

. NEL H. SUT'IE. 

